Ostomy bag with a compacted sheath

ABSTRACT

There is provided a disposable ostomy bag assembly ( 1 ) comprising a bag ( 3 ) for receiving bodily waste materials; a compactable sheath ( 2 ) for closing and sealing the bag ( 3 ) after use; and a flange ( 4 ) for securing the assembly to the body of a patent and provided with an orifice to enable bodily waste to be received by the bag ( 3 ). The ostomy assembly ( 1 ) solves the problem of escaping malodour and bodily waste when the patient detaches the ostomy bag from the body (face plate ( 5 )). The compactable sheath ( 2 ) can be stretched to acquire a cylindrical sheath ( 2 ) extending from the flange ( 4 ), whereby the sheath ( 2 ) may be closed in order to seal the contents of the bag ( 3 ). Closing the sheath ( 2 ) may simply be done by tying a knot ( 6 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a disposable ostomy bag assembly with abag for receiving bodily waste materials. More specifically the presentinvention relates to an ostomy bag assembly provided with a compactedsheath for closing and sealing the bag after use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Following surgery, patients who have had a surgical construction of anartificial excretory opening such as ileostomy or colostomy patients useileostomy/colostomy bags (collectively referred to as ostomy bags) tocollect bodily waste materials. These bodily waste materials includegases, liquids and solids. The waste material may be semi-solid faecalwaste. It is desirable in any event to dispose the collected materialswith minimal handling from the user. It is also desirable to avoidundesired smell to escape from the ostomy bag when it is detached fromthe patient after use and before being disposed.

Some bags are intended for multiple use purposes and generally thesurgical patients find that they have to empty the collection bag manytimes during the day. A given collection bag is thus fitted with wastedischarge outlet through which the waste materials collected from theartificial excretory opening can be discharged. It is not unusual toempty these bags between six and ten times in any given day. Acollection bag will typically be worn for a number of consecutive daysbefore being replaced with a new bag. Given the nature of the materialswhich they collect, such collection bags are generally made of plasticsmaterials.

One commercial toilet flushable pouch (similar to the device describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,647) is available from Welland Medical Limited inthe UK. Their product is an inner liner pouch which is designed to fitwithin the bag worn by the user. The pouch is designed and arranged tocollect the bodily waste materials and provide a barrier between thosematerials and the bag. None of the bodily waste materials thereforecomes into direct contact with the inner of the bag. Additionally, thebodily waste materials can be removed by removing the inner pouchwithout contamination of the bag. This means however that the innerpouch must be of a relatively complex design as it must be adapted tofit to the artificial opening of the body in the same way as thecollection bag. This is necessary in order to avoid contamination of thecollection bag with bodily waste material.

US2003023210A1 discloses an ostomy pouch and an insert defining aninterior volume. The insert is configured for positioning within theostomy pouch and can define a pair of handles, a pair of pleated sidepanels, or a pair of handles and a pair of pleated side panels.

WO05082272A2 discloses an ostomy appliance comprising a receiving memberand a disposable bag liner. Furthermore WO05082272A2 discloses a bagbeing compacted lengthwise while twisting a bottom part in relation to arim and a method of compacting the same.

Various disposable ostomy bags have been disclosed in the prior art.Meanwhile, none of these are equipped with means for simple closing andsealing the contents of the bags before disposal. Moreover, the priorart does not disclose an ostomy bag equipped with means for simpleclosing and sealing of the contents of the bag and which means canmaintain the seal after the bag has been detached from the body of thepatient thereby reducing the risk of escaping odour or soiling of theclothing by dripping output from the stoma.

In general the containers and methods of disposal of the prior art arenot convenient for the end user and are generally difficult to carryaround.

The inventors have now devised improvements to such disposalreceptacles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a disposable ostomy bag assembly whichsolves the problems discussed above. Specifically there is provided adisposable ostomy bag assembly comprising:

-   -   a bag for receiving bodily waste materials;    -   a compactable sheath for closing and sealing the bag after use;        and    -   a flange for securing the assembly to the body of a patient and        provided with an orifice to enable bodily waste to be received        by the bag;        wherein said bag and sheath are secured to said flange.

The ostomy assembly of the present invention solves the problem ofescaping malodour and bodily waste when the patient detaches the ostomybag from the body (face plate). The compactable sheath can be stretchedto acquire a cylindrical sheath extending from the flange, whereby thesheath may be closed in order to seal the contents of the bag. Closingthe sheath may simply be done by tying a knot.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the bag and sheathare welded to the flange. Alternatively the sheath is glued to saidflange either alone or together with the bag.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the sheath is made from a plasticfilm, which renders the sheath particularly easy to close by tying aknot. The sheath may also be provided with an adhesive layer on itsinside so that pressing the sheath together makes a seal.

The sheath may be made from plastic film and in particularly materialsconventionally used for the preparation of ostomy appliances. Suchmaterials are suitably films composed of any suitable material, which isheat sealable and sufficiently impervious for unpleasant odours such aspolyolefin films or combinations of such films, e.g. polyethylene or aco-extrudate of polyethylene and polyvinylidene chloride. Preferably theplastic film is selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene,polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polyvinylinene chloride.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention thesheath is provided with folding lines for easy compacting the sheathlengthwise. The sheath may be secured on either the front side (facingthe body) or back-side of the flange to be attached to the body of thepatient. For practical reasons the sheath is preferably secured on thebag-side of the flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the ostomy bag assembly of the presentinvention, wherein the sheath is its compacted position.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the ostomy bag assembly of the present invention,wherein the sheath is stretched and tied in a knot in order to seal thecontents of the bag.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the ostomy bag assembly of the present invention,wherein the sheath is stretched and adheres to the face place on thebody of the patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the problems discussed above in prior artostomy bags by providing an integrating closing mechanism for sealingthe contents of the bag with a compactable sheath.

The inventive ostomy bag assembly contributes to improved patientcomfort and easy handling of used disposable ostomy bags.

Reference is made to FIG. 1, which shows a side view of the ostomy bagassembly (1) of the present invention, wherein the sheath (2) is in itscompacted position. In addition to the compactable sheath (2) the ostomybag assembly (1) includes a bag (3) for receiving bodily wastematerials; and a flange (4) for securing the assembly to the face plate(5) on the body of a patient. This ostomy assembly solves the problem ofescaping malodour and bodily waste when the patient detaches the ostomybag (3) from the face plate (5). The compactable sheath (2) can bestretched to acquire a cylindrical sheath extending from the flange,whereby the sheath may be closed in order to seal the contents of thebag (see FIG. 2).

Reference is made to FIG. 2 showing a side view of the ostomy bagassembly (1) of the present invention, wherein the sheath (2) isstretched and tied in a knot (6) in order to seal the contents of thebag. This solves the problem of escaping malodour and bodily waste whenthe patient detaches the ostomy bag (3) from the face plate (5). FIG. 2also shows the flange (4) for securing the assembly to the face plate(5) on the body of a patient.

Reference is made to FIG. 3 also showing a side view of the ostomy bagassembly (1), wherein the sheath (2) is stretched and adheres to theface place (5) on the body of the patient. In order to ensure adherenceof the sheath (2) to the face plate (5) the sheath (2) is provided (inthis embodiment) with an adhesive layer. The figure also shows theflange (4) for securing the assembly to the face plate (5) on the bodyof a patient. Alternatively, the sheath (2) is provided with a rim orsimilar structure that can be affixed to the face plate (5). In this waythe patient may detach the bag (3) from the face plate (5) without anymalodour leaves the bag (3) until the patient detaches the sheath (2)from the face plate (5) before closing the sheath (2) and therebysealing the contents of the bag (3). This manoeuvre may be done quicklyso that only a minute amount of malodour leaves the bag.

1. A disposable ostomy bag assembly comprising: a bag for receivingbodily waste materials; a compactable sheath for closing and sealing thebag after use; and a flange for securing the assembly to the body of apatient and provided with an orifice to enable bodily waste to bereceived by the bag; wherein said bag and sheath are secured to saidflange.
 2. The disposable ostomy bag assembly of claim 1, wherein saidbag and sheath are welded to said flange.
 3. The disposable ostomy bagassembly of claim 1, wherein said sheath is glued to said flange.
 4. Thedisposable ostomy bag assembly of claim 1, wherein said sheath is madefrom a plastic film.
 5. The disposable ostomy bag assembly of claim 4,wherein the plastic film is selected from the group consisting of:polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, andpolyvinylinene chloride.
 6. The disposable ostomy bag assembly of claim1, wherein said sheath is provided with folding lines for compacting thesheath lengthwise.
 7. The disposable ostomy bag assembly of claim 1,wherein said sheath is secured on the bag-side of the flange.
 8. Thedisposable ostomy bag assembly of claim 1, wherein said sheath isprovided with means for attachment to the body of a patient, such asonto the face-plate of the patient.
 9. The disposable ostomy bagassembly of claim 8, wherein the means for attachment to the body of apatient is an adhesive layer on the surface of the sheath orientedtowards the patient.